22 October 2026
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan inaugurated the National Conference on Cooperative Federalism and Legal Reforms: National and State Perspectives in New Delhi on 22 October 2026.
He said the replacement of three colonial-era criminal laws by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam is a major step towards legal reforms.
He said more than 1,700 obsolete and redundant laws have been repealed over the last twelve years.
He called for greater consultation, coordination and shared responsibility between the Centre and the States.
Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also addressed the conference and said States are active partners in shaping development priorities, not merely implementing agencies.
Obsolete laws repealed:
more than 1,700
Period:
last twelve years
Why it matters for exams: The three new criminal laws and Centre-State consultation are standing polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
BNSS Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita — The law that replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure.
22 October 2026
President Droupadi Murmu released a two-hundred-rupee commemorative coin at Lok Bhawan in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on 22 October 2026.
The coin marks the 200th birth anniversary of Pujya Mata Sahib Hasi Devi Ji.
Mata Hasi Devi Ji was the fifth head of the Shadani Darbar, a spiritual and cultural centre of the Sindhi community.
Hundreds of members of the Sindhi community attended the event.
The President was also to attend the Seva Samman Parv and Yuva Prabodhan events at the Sardar Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur.
Her two-day visit includes prayers at the Maa Danteshwari Temple and the Muria Darbar of Bastar Dussehra.
Coin denomination:
Rs 200
Occasion:
200th birth anniversary
Venue:
Lok Bhawan, Raipur
Why it matters for exams: Commemorative coins and the persons they honour are frequent one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Shadani Darbar Shadani Darbar — A spiritual and cultural centre of the Sindhi community.
22 October 2026
India and Poland agreed to double bilateral trade by 2030 and to establish a Defence Industry Dialogue.
The announcement followed bilateral talks in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on 22 October 2026.
Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, briefed the media on the outcomes.
Poland joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
The two sides also agreed to hold a dialogue on counter-terrorism.
George said India's position is that the Russia-Ukraine conflict should be settled through dialogue and diplomacy.
Trade target year:
2030
New mechanism:
Defence Industry Dialogue
Body Poland joined:
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral visit outcomes, target years and new dialogue mechanisms are standard current affairs questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
CDRI Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure — A partnership launched by India to make infrastructure resilient to disasters.
22 October 2026
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers J P Nadda inaugurated the 14th edition of India Chem 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, NESCO, in Mumbai on 22 October 2026.
He set a target of a one-trillion-dollar chemicals market by 2040.
Under the proposed Bhavya Rasayan scheme, the Centre would provide Rs 1,000 crore for each chemical park and the concerned state would contribute at least Rs 500 crore.
The theme of the event is Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the sector already employs three lakh people in the state.
The three-day event concludes on Saturday.
Market target:
one-trillion-dollar by 2040
Centre's share per park:
Rs 1,000 crore
State's minimum share:
at least Rs 500 crore
Edition:
14th India Chem
Why it matters for exams: Scheme names, outlays per park and sector targets are asked directly in economy sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Bhavya Rasayan Bhavya Rasayan scheme — A proposed central scheme to fund chemical parks jointly with states.
22 October 2026
Education Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the registration portal for the fifth Kashi Tamil Sangamam, KTS 5.0, on 22 October 2026.
The event will be held in Varanasi from 28 November to 12 December 2026.
The theme is Thirukkural Payilvom, which means Let Us Learn the Thirukkural.
Joshi said over 1,400 delegates across seven categories will take part.
A special initiative will involve 1,000 students from 1,000 higher educational institutions.
Over 1,000 participants from Tamil Nadu will make an eight-day journey covering Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
Edition:
KTS 5.0
Dates:
28 November to 12 December 2026
Theme:
Thirukkural Payilvom
Delegates:
over 1,400 across seven categories
Why it matters for exams: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programmes, their editions and themes are regularly asked.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Thirukkural Thirukkural — A classical Tamil work of couplets attributed to Thiruvalluvar.
22 October 2026
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 begins at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 23 October 2026 and runs to 31 October.
This is the inaugural edition of the championship.
The men's tournament has 13 teams, with seven in Group A and six in Group B.
Group A has India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.
Group B has Bangladesh, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Scotland and Singapore.
India is captained by Surjeet Singh, with Naveen Kumar as vice-captain.
The women's tournament has 10 teams, and both tournaments end with semi-finals on 30 October and gold medal matches on 31 October.
Venue:
Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad
Men's teams:
13
Women's teams:
10
Dates:
October 23 to 31, 2026
Why it matters for exams: Host venues, team counts and inaugural editions of championships are asked in sports sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
22 October 2026
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar won the compound mixed team archery gold for India at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya on 22 October 2026.
They beat Indonesia's Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang 151-148 in the final.
The top-seeded Indian pair had set a new world record in qualification.
India led 38-37 after the first end and 77-73 after the second.
Swati Chaudhary took silver in the women's W-1 event and Suvarna Raj won gold in the women's F-54 discus throw.
Bhavina Patel and Shubham Wadhwa secured a medal in mixed doubles XD7 in para table tennis.
Final score:
151-148
Beaten pair:
Indonesia
Venue:
Aichi-Nagoya
Why it matters for exams: Asian Para Games medallists, events and scores are high-frequency sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
22 October 2026
The Supreme Court explained on 21 October 2026 that Section 175(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita expands the safeguards available to a public servant before a Magistrate orders an investigation.
The provision requires a report from the public servant's superior officer and consideration of the public servant's assertions.
The Court said the erstwhile Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure had no comparable requirement.
The bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing Pinarayi Vijayan v Adv K M Shajahan, SLP(Crl) No. 20437/2026.
The Court said the reference to Section 175(4) was not a view on the merits of the case before it.
Provision:
Section 175(4), BNSS
Earlier provision:
Section 156(3), CrPC
Case number:
SLP(Crl) No. 20437/2026
Why it matters for exams: The shift from Section 156(3) CrPC to Section 175(4) BNSS is a direct law question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Section 175(4) BNSS Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Section 175(4) — Requires a superior officer's report before a Magistrate orders investigation against a public servant.
22 October 2026
The Supreme Court stayed the investigation in the CMRL-Exalogic matter for seven days on 21 October 2026.
The bench told the Enforcement Directorate not to meddle in the domain of other agencies.
The Court set aside the High Court Division Bench's refusal of leave to appeal and asked the High Court to hear the appeal.
The stay was granted so the petitioners could seek interim relief from the High Court.
The Court found a prima facie case against the Single Judge's order, which had directed registration of an FIR and investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Length of stay:
seven days
Act named:
Prevention of Corruption Act
Why it matters for exams: The Prevention of Corruption Act and the appellate route from a Single Judge are recurring questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ED Enforcement Directorate — The agency that enforces India's foreign exchange and money laundering laws.
22 October 2026
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth over Rs 8,941 crore in Delhi on 22 October 2026.
Ten projects were inaugurated and 33 were launched at the ceremony.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended.
The projects cover sewage treatment plant upgrades, new sewage treatment plants, a decentralised pumping station and sewer connections to homes.
Sites named include Sarai Kale Khan, ITO, Asita East, Bansera and Vasudev Ghat.
The Minister set May 2029 as the target for cleaning the Yamuna.
Outlay:
over Rs 8,941 crore
Projects inaugurated:
10
Projects launched:
33
Target:
May 2029
Why it matters for exams: River cleaning outlays and target years are directly asked in environment and economy sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
STP Sewage Treatment Plant — A facility that treats waste water before it is released into a river.
22 October 2026
Three new Indian sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2026.
They are the Karst-mud-volcano Complex of Baratang and the Andaman Subduction Volcanoes, both in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh.
India's Tentative List now carries 81 sites.
A place on the Tentative List is the first step before a formal nomination for inscription on the World Heritage List.
Narcondam Island already appears separately on India's Tentative List with the year 2014.
Sites on India's Tentative List:
81
New entries in 2026:
Baratang, Andaman Subduction Volcanoes, Sirpur
Why it matters for exams: Tentative List counts and the states that host new entries are direct one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Tentative List UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List — An inventory of properties a State Party intends to nominate for World Heritage status.